Category: Animals > Adaptation
One of the most fascinating adaptations found in deep-sea animals is their ability to withstand extreme pressure. As depth increases in the ocean, pressure rises significantly—by about one atmosphere for every 10 meters of water. Creatures like the giant squid and the gulper eel have evolved specialized adaptations such as flexible bodies, lack of air-filled cavities, and unique proteins that help maintain cellular functions under pressure. For instance, the deep-sea fish known as the abyssal cusk eel has a gelatinous body that allows it to compress without damage, while its swim bladder, which helps regulate buoyancy in shallower waters, is either absent or highly reduced. This remarkable ability not only enables these organisms to inhabit some of the planet's most extreme environments but also provides scientists with insights into evolutionary biology and potential applications in biotechnology.